Court: Russia responsible for violations in Trans-Dniester

PARIS – The European Court of Human Rights says Russia can be held responsible for rights violations in the Moldovan breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester, and has ordered the Russian government to pay 29,000 euros ($32,000) in damages to a man imprisoned there.

The court ruled Tuesday that Russia had violated various rights of a Moldovan man arrested in Trans-Dniester in 2008 and that he was subject to inhuman or degrading treatment.

The ruling also covered the question of which country has jurisdiction over Trans-Dniester. The Strasbourg, France-based European court ruled that both Russia and Moldova have jurisdiction.

The pro-Russian republic broke away from Moldova in 1990 amid fears the country wanted to reunite with neighboring Romania. There are some 1,500 Russian peacekeepers and troops guarding Soviet-era weapons stationed there.